Air Transport Association responds to Biden remarks

The Air Transport Association of America, the trade organization for U.S. airlines, wrote a sharp letter to Vice President Biden about advice to avoid air travel that he gave on NBC’s “Today” show, April 30.

“Vice President Biden’s comment that people should avoid air travel in response to the H1N1 flu outbreak was extremely disappointing,” said ATA President and CEO James C. May. “The airlines have been working daily with government agencies, none of [which] suggest people avoid air travel, unless they are not feeling well. The fact is that the air onboard a commercial aircraft is cleaner than that in most public buildings.”